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Friday, April 21, 2017

Why the March for Science is a Bad Idea

On Saturday, thousands of people around the country will take part in a March for Science. There will be a lot of well-meaning folks participating, most of them concerned about the activities and intent of the current administration.

But for reasons I will outline below, I believe they will be harming science more than helping. They will feel better for sure, but they will do little to advance the cause they care about, and possibly do long-term harm.

There are many reasons why the Science March such a bad idea.

(1) The Science March is overly political and endangers the relationship between science and society.

Science play a critical role in civic life, acting as non-political source of information about the the natural environment and as the generator of useful technologies. Scientists are credible only when their information is considered unbiased and not politically motivated. The lack of political bias is why both sides of the aisle have supported the nation's large scientific establishment over many years.

The Science March is clearly political and is an attempt to put pressure on the Trump administration. It will be seen as political by everyone and particularly those it means to pressure. Furthermore, the major concern driving this march is not science in general, but of the Trump administration's appointments and future actions regarding climate science and fossil fuel regulations.

(2) The Science March Makes Science a Target

The march will identify supporters of science as being against the Trump administration, putting a big target on the back of the U.S. science establishment.

I have just finished reading my third book on Donald Trump. One thing is clear: he tends to act very aggressively against those who cross him, and particularly those that attack his public image. Do science supporters really want to provoke him unnecessarily and to little advantage?

Furthermore, there is no reason to think that Donald Trump is anti-science in general or that he really has any strong feelings about science. His anti-climate rhetoric might be similar to his pro-Russian talk: something that might rapidly alter as circumstances change. Do science supporters really want to push him into a corner?

(3) Republicans are Not Anti-Science and Can Protect Most Science If They Are Given a Chance.

Science research has generally done well when Republicans have been in control. For example, climate research funding went up substantially during the last Bush administration. Recently, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act passed the Republican-controlled Senate and House with overwhelming support. I have talked to a number of Republican staffers on critical House committees who told me that since they control the "purse" they could protect most of the science establishment.

Climate research is only a small part of the Federal scientific portfolio. Having questions about climate issues does not make one generally anti-science.(4) The March will Fuel Partisanship and Polarization in the Nation

A key problem in the nation has been the polarization of the population and Congress. The moderate center of the country has been severely weakened, and a cultural divide has developed between the liberal coasts and the conservative interior. Between haves and have nots. Will a large protest march for science help bridge this divide? Or will it identify scientists with other, generally left-leaning, protest groups? Will those hurting economically that voted for Trump be more likely to support science after a protest? I suspect not.

This is not going to win over Trump supporters

(5) We Really Don't Know What the Current Congress Will Do Regarding Science Budgets

Congress has not passed a budget yet, so there is little information about what cut-backs or rebudgeting will occur. Why protest without knowing whether there will be significant reductions and in what areas?

(6) The March Does Not Have Clear, Explicit Goals.

Go to the the March on Science website. Try to figure out what they are marching to change. According to their website the March is a "first step of a global movement to defend the vital role science plays in our health, safety, economies, and governments." Who is trying to reduce this "vital role?" What actions exactly are being called for?

(7) The March Organizers Will Not Control the Message

Overtly political or damaging messaging could easily be presented during the march. What is to going to stop anti administration signage? What happens if violent or disruptive protestors join the marches?

The political nature of this march is highlighted by the fact that there was no call for protecting science or marches when Democratic administrations played fast and loose with science. A good example was the sensational and unsupportable claims of the Obama administration science adviser (John Holdren) that eastern U.S. cold waves were caused by global warming. Demonstrably wrong, but few protested this obvious distortion and politicization of science. Or the claims by NY Govenor Cuomo that Hurricane Sandy was the result of climate change. Both political parties have distorted or miscommunicated science when it was in their political interests.

A Better Approach

Instead of marching and being seen as opponents of the current administration, scientists and their supporters would be far more effective if they greatly increased their outreach to the community, communicating both the process and results of science.

Scientists should go into the community and talk about their science. Speak at local libraries, in schools, and fraternal organizations. Folks are extraordinarily interested in what we (scientists) have to say. Make an effort to connect with political leaders. Use social media (like blogs!). Nothing is more powerful than person to person contact. Help increase science literacy. In the long term, public understanding of science and the motivations of scientists is the most powerful tool for protecting the health of the nation's science enterprise.

Worried that some folks feel climate change is a hoax? A good reason to have climate scientists enhance active outreach into communities doubting the science.

Let me end, by saying that there is nothing wrong with marches against the current administration or the current Republican leadership in Congress. But don't involve science in it. If folks are honest, they would admit that this is basically a political protest against the current leadership in DC. Perhaps the most problematic leadership in the history of our country. So have a march, but don't use science as a cover, and don't put science at risk.

Marches like this don't build bridges. And in a highly polarized society, bridges are desperately needed. Several of us have built bridges in the area of weather prediction, and this week the Weather Forecast and Research Innovation Bill was signed into law. Let's build bridges in the area of climate change. It can be done if we have the wisdom and patience to do so.

122 comments:

One needn't make a choice between personal outreach and a public demonstration of support for science in general...why not do both? I don't find your arguments against the latter tactic very convincing!

Cliff, I appreciate the voice of reason. I'm no fan of the current admin, but I agree that we need to at least try to change the narrative.

Too often now it seems that everything needs to be right or wrong, liberal or conservative, black or white. This forces people into their respective 'side' and while one side may be right on one issue, they can be completely wrong on another issue. Then there's the situations where both sides have valid points, and the proper thing to do is somewhere in the middle. However, we're now at a point where one side will fight and do just about anything to get in power, and it's their way or the highway.

I do not doubt the same approach will happen when a democrat is elected as the next president. It's not good for the nation as it not only polarizes us, but it takes issues, such as climate change and other scientific issues, and makes people choose a side.

The reality is, as we all know, science does not have sides. Is there right and wrong? Yes, of course, but when we take science and apply the same political rhetoric that lead us to this point, we breed distrust of facts...

I won't be marching either, partially for the reasons you outline, partially because I have other things to do, but you highlight some very good points. That being said, I do think that, at some point in time, a line needs to be drawn in the sand. When and where that is done, I can't personally say, but it's important for people to know that this is a big issue. I've had my doubts that political marches do anything, at all, but to each their own.

Yes, marching is inherently political which generates amusing irony.Scientific process represents a triumph of reason over emotion.But it is emotion ( of a full bladder if nothing else ) which motivates us to rise every morning.It is emotion that makes one march.

I was thinking of marching, but with a sign: "There's some evidence that the tendency to adhere to groups is an evolutionary trait"

Thanks for your thoughtful commentary, Cliff. I have some reservations similar to yours. However, the March organizers didn't politicize science - climate science was politicized by the Republicans and the fossil fuel industry.Naomi Oreskes documented it well in "Merchants of Doubt". So the irony is that we have to have a political march to depoliticize science. Regardless of the merits of the march, you are spot on about scientists needing to communicate more, especially about climate change. Climate denial is science denial.

Cliff,I always appreciate your honest, non-political viewpoint! It is refreshing to see in this time of deep polarization. If only both sides of the aisle could look at things independent of a political angle, more would get accomplished!

Port Angeles has organized a Celebration of Science with informational booths, speakers throughout the day, activities for families and a "Wall of Scientists" displaying profiles of current and retired scientists and science educators in our area.

Interesting comment in today's New York Times about President Obama's reluctance to call out Trump:

"Aides have rejected the idea that Mr. Obama should actively wage a public feud against Mr. Trump, with whom he has not spoken since the inauguration. They believe that such a fight would give the current president the high-profile political foil he wants to further energize his conservative supporters."

Brave blog! I mostly agree, except it is the Republicans, not just Trump, that are setting the current science agenda, and I am not sure they are so fickle.

I agree the shortcomings are (1) the purpose is unfocused, (2) the march is politically divisive, and (3) of course we scientists want more science (and more funding for science) - loud self-promotion of big federal programs will not be persuasive with the small-government crowd that elected the current Congress.

Some pros are that (1) the public responds more positively to emotion than facts, and compassionate scientists marching with real issues may have some impact, and (2) follow-ups will gain energy and hopefully organization and focus. I don't think we should be shy about issues for fear of vindictive politicians, but the issues here, aside from climate change, are very murky.

Instead, I'll be in DC on Tuesday informing legislators and others how some specific investments in science protect people and the economy of the PNW.

I partially agree with a couple of your statements, but I plan to be on The Mall in DC tomorrow morning. Funding is a political issue, and this administration does plan to cut funding in a number of areas related to science and education. That's mostly what I'm marching for. On a separate note, perhaps one of the fundamental flaws in the model of academia (which, I know, is not most working scientists) is the lack of emphasis on communicating with the general public, and the overwhelming push to get grant funding and publish publish publish. I'm a grad student and would love to see a separate tenure track for great teachers who don't necessarily have the drive to do as much in the lab or field at major research universities. There are some great researchers who suck at teaching, but they are rewarded with advancement, when some of the best teachers don't make it because they don't bring in $$$. That is just wrong.

Thanks Cliff,I do worry about the march being too partisan and that only one side of the current political debate is taking part.That said, the past is a bucket of ashes. Any comparison between this administration and any other really cannot be made. There is no precedent for the replacement of science based conclusions with political objectives. The President is not filling Senate Confirm-able positions and instead letting unconfirmed political appointees run them; often from political staffs that have the most extreme views.I also completely disagree with the "Both Sides Do it" comments. You cannot compare the voicing of an opinion on one side with little effect on the nation's life with the wholesale change in direction at the cabinet level away from science based conclusions.Increasingly I feel like a player for the "Washington Generals" playing the Harlem Globetrotters and wondering why we always lose. Well its because the other side does not care about the rules and supporting "Science" is another way of saying we support the rules.

I see. If you don't anger the rubes, their Congress Critters and the insane man in the White House, everything will work itself out, right? Surely this current bout political unpleasantry will pass over science if and only if science clings to the appearance of being apolitical. Don't make waves; don't draw attention because science is too important to risk. Besides those undergrads and Profs to be fired will be trouble-makers and Lefties anyway.

Come on man, this is scarily reminiscent of thinking by all sorts of educated German professionals circa 1930. We know how that turned out. Millions of Germans died because the German bourgeoisie could not, would not, believe Hitler would do what he repeatedly said he would do. This should sound too familiar to an American ear. I am not exaggerating the true fascist nature of the Trump Administration. While we are not rounding up Jews or invading France, Muslims and Hispanic Americans are serviceable stand-ins and military plans against North Korea are being drafted. They will round up the rest of us later.

America in amidst an existential crisis that threaten all of Humanity. Tut-tutting over the possibility of hurt feels sure seems shallow now.

Wow these are some seriously weak arguments. Raising awareness of the size and diversity of the scientific community isn't dependent on the views or tendencies of Donald Trump. Quite the opposite.

We also know exactly what the current congress is going to do, and it isn't going to be based on good science. Are you seriously arguing that because we didn't demonstrate in the past we shouldn't now? Do you genuinely think the situation is the same? The democrats used shoddy science, sure - but they didn't actively dismantle the EPA or push aggressive cuts to science education and research funding.

Why don't you come up with some good ideas yourself that adhere to your own apparently unique view on the state of science in politics? This critique appears misplaced and quite frankly wrong to me in many ways.

You are yourself someone who identifies as a scientist and educator who also endeavors to have a voice in politics. This to me is the main goal of the march, to point out that there is a line of ignorance that once crossed will trigger a response. Politics needs much more logic, math, evidence, and other scientific tools if we want to continue to succeed as a community.

Thank you so much for your post Cliff. There seems to be very few people that have a realistic grasp of the intersection of science and politics. I am very worried about the damage the march will do to science. I feel scientists will lose credibility as non-partisan. I have been doing biological research for 25 years and my political leanings are irrelevant as are those of the people I work with. It is not a factor in how our research is done. Over the years federal funding of research has gone up and down. We need to encourage positive interactions with the current administration to communicate the importance of our work and promote the use of federal dollars to support that research. This march can only hurt us at this point. It is a sad day for science and all the people that will benefit from our research.

As a twitter participant in many conversations with scientists, marchers, AltGov & rogue rangers, I see a very broad and multifaceted approach to raising awareness about the impact of science on everyday life and shaping policy. Scientists are upping their outreach game, crowdfunding is helping advance efforts to engage children, from all walks of life, in science.Yes it's political, but politics are how we do things in this country. If marching brings much needed attention to the plight of what should be unbiased information gathering, studying & sharing under a regime that continually and increasingly seeks to repress and distort it, then good. It's a starting point, and just one part of a larger movement. Democracy is messy, but we can't always stay tidy when the stakes are huge.

There are so many things wrong this piece I'm not sure where to start, honestly. But the idea of organizing nationwide protests around a few offhand comments by a science advisor and a governor genuinely made me laugh. We're supposed to compare this with the leader of the free world calling climate change a Chinese hoax? With him appointing just about the most hostile/anti-science person he could think of to head the EPA? With the chair of the house science committee issuing more subpoenas than it has in it's entire history prior?

(1) Everything related to public policy is political, even science. Your failure to acknowledge that reality doesn't change it. Those who oppose science realize it's political, and by refusing to accept the political nature of public policy, you're giving them an advantage.

(2) The march for science is an opportunity remove the target from its back. Your willingness to assume the worst concerns me. I've invited my friends who support Trump to march with me. If they want to be against science, they can declare that for themselves.

(3) There are both Republicans and Democrats who oppose science. With Republicans, it's climate change. With Democrats, it's vaccination and GMOs. This march is about all of those issues.

(4) I don't know if you've noticed, but the partisan divide hasn't been widening, it's just gotten more attention, creating the perception that it is widdening. It saddens me to see a scientist display confirmation bias. If you don't believe I'm right, check out the bitter election between Adams and Jefferson.

(5) The reason I'm protesting is to give everyone a chance to treat science like the nonpartisan (yet still political) issue that it is. I'm marching in the hope of influencing what Congress will do in the future. If I wait for them to cut funding science before I march, it will be too late.

(6) The march doesn't need clear explicit goals. We don't want to alienate anyone. If you're a fan of science, you're invited to march. You're missing your chance to influence the goals of the march, but if you think you can accomplish more by not attending, that's okay too.

(7) We're marching to exercise our First Amendment rights. If march organizers start trying to censor participants, it defeats the point of free speech.

(8) True, we didn't march under Obama, but I've never liked "two wrongs make a right" arguments.

When people have differing views on the rules and resources of society, that's politics. To say that something isn't politics is to deny that differing views exist, or to believe that people shouldn't be allowed to disagree.

If you want to get anything important done (or prevent what you have from being undone), then you've got to organize. Pretending otherwise will fail.

Your arguments against this political march seem to be political in themselves, just differently opinionated. Mostly they are quite speculative, and unsupported by what the Trump administration and Congress have already done, as pointed out by others above. My favorite speculation on your part is "His anti-climate rhetoric might be similar to his pro-Russian talk: something that might rapidly alter as circumstances change." (One is so tempted to respond "and pigs might fly"). Should we patronize Trump by assuming he doesn't mean all he says? What criteria should we apply to sort truth from untruth? Or should we accept him at his word, which so far seems to be substantially what he has done?

Your arguments against a political march seem to be political in themselves, just differently opinionated, which is fine for a blog as long as acknowledged. So many of your arguments are speculative and do not reflect what Trump and Congress have actually done already, as others have pointed out above. My favorite speculation is "His anti-climate rhetoric might be similar to his pro-Russian talk: something that might rapidly alter as circumstances change." One is so tempted to respond "and pigs might fly". Should we patronize Trump by assuming he doesn't mean what he says? What criteria should we apply to sort out truth from untruth? Or should we take him at his word, which is at least reality-based, and just wait until the outcome is irrremediable?

I have to be brief but I'd like you to please consider that science and scientific approaches also encompass social science and public health research that seek to eliminate social and health disparities. The progressive nature of our work does not have the luxury of remaining non-partisan or objective. Political advocacy is very crucial to effectively advance our pursuit of health and social equity.

In the interest of time, I'd like to quote Camara Jones, a prominent public health figure, on the importance of this march to those in our field:

"The anti-science rhetoric and actions that have been increasing since the 2016 U.S. election are likely to exacerbate the health inequities already experienced by racial/ethnic minority communities, LGBTQ communities, poor communities, and other marginalized/stigmatized/oppressed populations. Some public health professionals are already facing challenges to carrying out their work, including hostility toward the work and decreases in support for it.

The health equity community must be a visible component of the March for Science...We urge all health equity researchers, practitioners, and advocates to participate in the March for Science, and support other efforts to ensure the autonomy and integrity of anti-racism research and other research examining, explaining, and addressing the root causes of health inequities."

The march doesn't have goals because goals don't matter anymore - it's about being seen and heard. This is an opportunity to show the world that you matter! This is an opportunity to take selfies and show the world that you are on trend, that science is on trend, and we're going to get at least one million likes for science.

So the biggest threat to science isn't the all-out assault on the profession? On facts, on funding, on the very essence of the role that science plays in furthering the interests of civilization and humanity?

The biggest threat is ... left-wing protestors?

I'm sure Cliff doesn't like that the protests are political. I mean, gosh, if only we just sang kum-by-yah and held hands in global agreement. But, gosh, something is telling me that the bigger threat to science isn't from the folks holding signs in the streets, but instead from the people in actual power who are making "political" decisions that have long-lasting and critical impacts on the very foundations of science, itself.

Both sides don't do it, Cliff. One side declared war on science. I guess some scientists would like to fight back about that, but I'm sorry that you feel that somehow these two viewpoints and tactics have the same equivalency.

I'm as entertained as anyone by ridiculous "science" such a homeopathy, GMOs, vaccination, fluoridation, and climate change deniers, in fact I've taught a short course on it. But the serious issue here is finding the right balance of federal regulations and programs to protect the public and the economy.

Trump is a misdirection, he's not doing much Congress objects to, except for projecting incompetence, and some like that he is distracting the public from the real issues. There are plenty of sensible and intelligent people on both sides. Many commenters here are perpetuating the misunderstanding that the other side is a bunch of troglodytes (or that the other side is a bunch ivory tower pinheads living on the public's hard earned tax dollars). It seems as though many are arguing that with proper understanding of science, everyone will agree with us. I don't think so. Both right and left have been articulating their visions for decades.

In addition, scientists such as Cliff and me are hindered if we try to be both subject matter experts and advocates, particularly advocates outside our narrow specialties. This march is likely to mostly be partisan advocacy.

Bravo Cliff! Exactly how I feel. While folks may think this will move their cause forward, it most likely will have the opposite effect. Demonizing the republicans and calling them all 'anti-science' will cause many folks on that side roll their eyes and not take any of this seriously.

Cliff, bless your heart for reaching out to the other tribe and letting them know that you're actually looking for solutions and the truth.But I'm afraid that I have drunk the koolaid long ago about Republicans and cannot believe a word they say. "Republicans not anti-science"? Hmm. Meh. No.Republicans are mostly anti-science. I'm sure that there are a few who could actually read something in a peer review journal and be educated by it.Are they in government? As for Trump, well, again he has no credibility with me.Zero. He could tell me the sky was blue and I'd have to check for myself.Politically I feel like the left needs to promote tribalism as a unifying theme.And the right wingers are begging for a fight. Pick a topic!Our nations social and cultural divide (or yawning abyss) needs to become more pronounced and clear cut if it is to be put to positive use. Science is an excellent wedge issue. I'm marching. And will always be a fan of your blog.

Well I am a Socialist. A "Bernie or Bust" rouge, that did not vote for Hillary.

Good post Cliff I agree 100%

More science is not better science.

Many Federal and State agencies are riff with pork.

We need to get special interest money out of our Universities.

Create a clear non-political path for scientist to do research.

(IMHO, this Organic farmer feels GMO may be the demise of our species. Loosing respect for evolutionary progress, and mono cropping along with pattening life which creates more jobs for lawyers does not sound like a good idea!)

So yep science is broken in this country. It needs to be freed of political and for profit corporate agendas.

The problem is these marches don't, and cannot mobilize the working class. There's no clear policy prescription, just a general message of supporting science. The left and the Democratic party fail to energize anyone with anti-trump messaging. you can't change a country by mobilizing liberal middle class people who want to feel good about themselves for supporting science.

I don't agree that republicans aren't anti-science, though. Republicans are agnostic about science when it does t affect their office, but they'll oppose it in a heartbeat if there's any political reason to do so. Even at the expense of the lives of people. It's the ultimate party of 'got mine, screw you'. There really arent any classically conservative republicans anymore.

Thanks as usual for fighting the good fight, Cliff - it's very much appreciated. But as we can see just from the comments on this blog alone, there are far too many people who choose emotion and tantrums over actual scientific inquiry and reason - because it only matters how one feels, not how one thinks. As long as you feel morally superior in your infantilism, actions like this one and the prior "queer dance for climate change" in front of Ivana Trump's home convinces no one - but makes the participants able to genuflect in their own righteousness when they kiss themselves in their mirrors each morning.

I appreciate Mr. Mass as climate scientist, but disagree with his opinion in this blog. I work as a HS science teacher and the current attack on scientific fact lead by our misguided leadership in DC needs to be brought into the public eye.

Cliff, there is a bit of false equivalency in your argument. Trump (Bannon actually) has installed cabinet level administrators who are charged and self motivated to dismantle the organizations they administer. I don't believe the Democrats have done anything that vile. It is simply not true that everyone does it.

The administration’s stated intent to dismantle (what did they do with that data?) and defund government agency science really and truly needs to be protested.

To say that science is not political is like saying humans are not political. I suggest some study of the history of science. Maybe YOUR science is not political. After all, the weather is all over the place. I am not sure what any one person's purpose is in marching, but I know that a lot of good has come from the Women's Marches. They did not end up causing some great backlash against women. Maybe on the alt-right, but who wants their approval? I do agree that the marches may not reach the working-class and poor in a way, e.g., a Civil Rights march might. Oh, should we not have a Civil Rights march because race is not political, it's a scientific matter? Don't march if you don't want to. And I do agree with a number of commenters that the current situation in unprecedented in recent history, with anti-science appointments, as well as non-(lack of) appointments, and major proposed budget cuts to science and medicine, as well as attacks on public education likely to undermine science education at the expense of religious dogma. Trump may go with the weather, but Pence? Lamar Smith? Pruitt? ...

Great post Cliff. What a voice of reason. All I can think about is teachers. Everyone loved teachers - until they threw their lot in with the democrats. I have never voted for a school levy since and probably will never. It will be a great disservice to this country if the scientific community does the same. You will never get the funding you want when you anger half the people that pay your salary.

Words of wisdom Cliff.I agree with Arbuckle. Marches are all about the shiny things.Pink hats.Which for science is unfortunate.Politics don't belong in science. But panic sets in and we have to kill off our fossil fuel industry overnight.Or at least try to.Science™

CliffI think this is very tricky. I believe we have reached a point where, sadly, the Republican party, maybe not all, but the party in it's actions, are anti-science. Trump has supported this view. If one believes , as I do, that this administration, in collusion with the Republican party is a threat to our democracy and all it stands for (including science ), as well as to stability in the world, one must act. I too have a solution to all this.. although I don't have a good plan to implement it. End gerrymandering! No longer will extremists be able to be elected to congress. Although it may not solve all these issues, I believe it will go a long way to restoring faith in Congress, thus allowing Congress to do some reasonable things, and ultimately stop people from getting so fed up that someone like Trump is elected. But, in the mean time, I think a protest, although far from perfect, seems fitting for a far from perfect situation.But, like most scientists, I am not certain the goal of tomorrow's march will achieve it's goal... but I'm prepared to hedge my bets.

mdeh, There is nothing wrong with protests that are highly political. Or protests delivering a message to the current administration or ruling party. Just don't make it a March for Science. Make it a March for Sane Government. I am not defending or supporting the current administration. Just don't make it about science....in reality it is not...cliff

Marches are political protests that are ineffective and typically widen the gap.

People are going to do what they're going to do, but there are a lot of self-serving pro-March arguments that have more to do with a sense of righteous indignation and less to do with facts and discourse. You want to promote science and science funding? Promote discourse. A march will only promote discourse with those who were already engaged. A march is not outreach.

Someone cites 1930s political climate; I'm going to counter and say there are worrying parallels between Stalinist Marxism and the radical left. I don't think it's wise for scientists to actively align themselves with a group that has a postmodern view of language and justice. Kafkae-sque. There has been more done to suppress free speech in the last five years than any political movement in the last fifty years. Objective, balanced science relies on free speech.

Good, well-meaning people are doing damage in their quest to do good.

If you want to make a long lasting change, do outreach. Give talks about your research in community colleges outside of large urban areas. At community centers. At schools. At churches. The people who are mistrustful (read: "anti-science") are laypeople who feel alienated and don't understand the value of certain scientific fields. Help them understand. Foster enthusiasm!

The scientist whose blog is famous for advancing weather and climate science through political action (e.g., coastal Doppler radars, funding for improved numerical weather prediction) says that the March for Science is a bad idea.

I think the key question is what the march will achieve. I expect the answer is nothing, but I appreciate the effort. I agree with others that Cliff used false equivalency here between democrats and republicans. It undermined his argument. If Obama had chosen a climate change denier to run the epa and gutted basic science research in his budget and killed all our power plant and fuel economy standards with the swipe of a pen I'd have opposed him too.

David Schultz, There is NO inconsistency there. The efforts I was involved with were not political in the sense of attacking one party, one administration, or one individual. They were efforts to push for important, specific scientifically motivated goals. They were inclusive, asking folks from both parties to help with an important task that would aid society. The current march is overtly political, targeted at the Trump administration. It has no specific, scientifically defendable goal. Worse than that, such a March will probably be counterproductive. alienating Trump supporters and those we need to convince of the seriousness of anthropogenic global warming...cliff

Eric...there is no false equivalency. If you believe an individual heading a major agency is wrong headed, oppose him/her. Write editorials, talk to your legislators, and even organize a march. But DON'T say you are representing science or scientists in general.

And there have been plenty of mistake folks on the left for you to protest as well. How about all the liberal folks who worked against the first carbon tax in the nation (e.g, 732)? And did you know that climate research funding increased far more steeply under George Bush the junior than under Obama? And where were you when the Clinton Administration did not support improved fuel standards on cars?

Protest all you want, but don't speak for SCIENCE...which a a way to search for truth and not a political movement.

Cliff, I am somewhat new to your blog and am fascinated by the weather.As a scientist you could use your blog as a front to bash people you don't agree with. I see many people who are responding here who are angry you aren't using this opportunity to bash the other political party. You are instead taking the stance that you should. Marches are political. The science of weather is not. There are plenty of venues both pro and con to get one's political weather appetite satisfied. I for one am glad this is not one of them. Again, thank you for your calm, analytical, and agnostic approach on the weather.

As a veteran of the Vietnam antiwar protests, I share your reservations about the effectiveness of protests. I don't think today's marches will move the needle one way or another. I don't believe they will give science a black eye, or influence Trump's agenda. I think they have some value as a warning to the conservative establishment that there are limits to how far they can push their anti-science agenda. And they will hopefully energize a new generation of voters to become more politically active.

Lucas...well hopefully you are right. But Trump got elected for a reason...and much of the blame falls on the liberal/progressives who were busy talking (and marching) with themselves, while putting down and ignoring those they thought did't understand "the truth." Imagine yourself, a poorly paid blue color worker, watching the highly educated (and generally highly paid) science folks complaining their budgets were cut in the area of climate change. Would the protest make your less or more likely to support more funding for those science folks? ..cliff

Hi Cliff, here's a quick post from the capitol campus in Olympia as I participate in the March for Science.

Shame on you for pitting like-minded people, who understand the importance of rational thought and the scientific method, against each other. Your efforts only have us standing in a circle shooting each other in the foot. Meanwhile, over in the corner C. Montgomery Burns steeples his fingers and murmurs "Excellent..."

The time and energy you spent creating this particular post would have been better spent educating your readers to the real menace to free thought. I am not the enemy, nor are those who joined me protesting today.

I'll accept the potential downside to my presence here in re: the politicization of science, but unfortunately that train left the station some time ago (see Galileo v. The Church). So here I am, standing for reason, enlightenment and understanding.

In a more contemplative world, scientists simply communicating with society, as you propose, would be sufficient to illuminate the public. Sadly, we don't live in that world. Instead, we have alternate facts and the easily-digested gimcrack messaging of superstition, anti-intellectualism and intolerance.

Stu...no one is pitting like minded people against each other. The question is whether we use our emotions or our intelligence to move forward. Trump uses folks that do the former. As scientists, we should do the latter. The polarizing approach doesn't work and plays into his hands. You are playing his game. ..cliff

Cliff, I respect your concerns and agree with you that we have come to live too much in our separate bubbles to understand what the other side is experiencing. The frustrating thing is all the money being poured into efforts to manipulate people into believing falsehoods in the interest of protecting selfish economic interests. That's nothing new, of course, but now science is being attacked in an effort to undermine the bedrock of knowledge itself. Look at what is happening at the EPA and USDA among other agencies. The danger of this cannot be understated. So we can debate how to respond, but frankly, I'd be a little concerned if no one was marching in support of science, reason, and education. I think it is going to require a variety of different strategies to turn this around.

Some people just want to march.. must make them feel empowered? I think they must all know this will do no good.

Almost appears that they're looking for pitty? To increase their numbers? Not sure, but it is sad to see good ideas, and values (women rights, minority rights, science) get drug into nasty, greedy, dirty politics..

Cliff is right, of coarse all this does is put science on a 'side' ..

Poor form 'scientists', keep the science, science. So all the people can rely on it not be fouled by some asshole politicians scheme to make their bank account bigger

Good post! I was interested in the concept when I first heard about it, but I agree - it seems more polarizing than anything else. I think the point of a protest should be to change public opinion (as opposed to simply expressing your own grievances), and I think these marches are the wrong strategy... they surely haven't helped us find any middle ground.

Excellent post Cliff. The hypocrisy of politics today is overwhelming and as relates to science is purely determined by ones leanings. Science should and will benefit by being completey apolitical. Keep up the great work.

Well said Cliff and thank you. While it is unfortunate that the right has taken to using science as some sort of a dodge or hustle (credit to Ghostbusters), I find it far more disturbing that the left has turned science into a religion with "right" and "wrong" beliefs and a need to purge heretics. Make no mistake about it, this march is nothing more than another left-wing attempt to publicly shame those they see as blasphemers. Global warming has become so contentious because far too many climate scientists have become activists and gotten into the business of demanding political solutions like cutting fossil fuel consumption while hyping worst case scenarios. True scientists stick to dispassionately pointing out the likely outcomes of various decisions and honestly acknowledge the confidence levels and and margin of error in their models. Society needs to take its scientists seriously, but activists can and probably should be ignored. One cannot be both.

Cliff, in my opinion you ARE CLEARLY pitting like-minded Rationalists against each other, and claiming otherwise is simply an extension of the opinion outlined in your post, which is CLEARLY your own, so OWN it.

Strongly disagree that we as Rationalists should simply try to reason our way forward. Our Founding Fathers made the separation of Church and State a fundamental tenet of the Constitution, and that tenet is now under well-funded political attack. Strategically key to that attack is the systematic discredation of scientific knowledge, expertise and methodology.

Betsy DeVos would be happy hand my children vouchers to attend a Christian madrasa, where young-earth Creationism is taught not alongside Evolution, but INSTEAD OF as settled fact -- and you think we have problems now with declining education standards?

The 'Active Measures' disinformation campaigns funded by the likes of ExxonMobile and the Koch Brothers to undermine Climate Science is another example of 'Science' writ-large under sustained political attack. Millions upon millions of dollars spent to propagandize dissenting minority opinions and preserve the corporate cash-flow status-quo.

While your post is an impressive display of advanced mental reasoning gymnastics, it unfortunately lands you on the same side of the debate about whether the 'March for Science' was a good idea as right-wing partisan 'Alex'. Maybe you and Alex will meet for a beer to discuss the way forward? Ha, not very likely!

Make no mistake, the battle for the hearts and minds of the next generation is being waged on a political front EVERY DAY. And to deny, ignore or be indifferent about this fact is to surrender the 'Information War' without acknowledging hostilities even exists!

Facts, logic and reason alone are insufficient to counter unbridled greed and self-aggrandizing aspirations to political power. We as Rationalists need to VALUE adherence to facts, logic and reason as highly as any FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, and be willing to FIGHT FOR THIS RIGHT in the political arena when under existential attack.

Regularly read an enjoy your blog, and know you need no encouragement to keep fighting the good fight for improving STEM student educational performance.

It's easy to sit back and criticize the marchers when you're firmly entrenched in tenure, approaching the end of modest career at a pubic university, TIAA CREF account bursting at the seams. Would you be so complacent if it was your job that was getting cut? If Trump appointed as president of UW a person whose sole purpose was to dismantle the university?

Protesting ad administration that is planning cuts to science, especially when those cuts are politically motivated, is the right thing to do. Protesting an administration which is actively preventing implementing good public policy, based on scientific evidence, it the right thing to do. Protesting an administration which is muzzling federal scientists is the right thing to do. You call it politics. I call it how we advocate for change in the US. I disagree strongly with the position you have taken here. Your argument is fundamentally wrong.

This was one of your better posts, Cliff. Emotion versus Science. We need to make it clear we stand for Science. Everything in the streets in pure 100% emotion. Useless at best, counterproductive at worst.

What really worries me is people burning up their energy and emotions protesting, when its clear that electing people with the right mindsets is what really makes a difference. Shame to waste all that energy on something that doesn't do much.

This from someone who remembers the streets of Chicago during the Democratic Convention in 1968. A place where it was made abundantly clear to us that what happens on the convention floor has far more lasting impact than what happens in the street. But... street protests were a lot more fun. Well, maybe not Chicago in 68, but usually.

I disagree. Science has already been a target, and it is time to bring it, appropriately, into the public awareness in terms of the politics relating to it. My sign said things like, "No funding? No cure." The proposed budgets cut science funding for the EPA in particular, which was already underfunded. The Puget Sound cleanup efforts? Cancelled. Something needs to counter "alternative facts" and bring the ubiquity of science into the awareness of the general public. I also had, "Black Lives Matter" with a list of references evidencing the need for that movement. While keeping the message productive is a challenge, society is already polarized, and making a large statement that articulates why science is important is our right and duty in times like these. I know someone personally who disbelieves anything coming from a government agency, and it is quite frightening to hear her thoughts in real life-- I knew her for years before I saw the things she says about the CDC, FDA, universities, etc. The huge crowd makes a statement, and plays a role in public opinion. I also had "INTEGRITY: It's built into the METHOD" which I thought was the most political part of my sign, given the lack of integrity politicians often show. But many people do not know why it is that scientific results can/should be trusted. They do not understand the method, or peer review. I agree with your alternative outreach ideas, but to put down the unity of people who want to make a statement for science, leaves me disappointed in you as a public figure. I started following you at least 12 years ago, and was with you on math textbooks, and most of topics you take a stand about, but this seems just... contrary. My sign also had "Public Education is the cornerstone of Social Justice" "build schools not jails" along with the No Funding No Clean Water themes. Commenters dismiss the value of pro-science people seeing each other, communicating, and cheering on each others' signs, but these are discouraging times for people reliant on grant funding, education funding, and those concerned for the health of our natural environment. I hope you expand your viewpoint to see the value in making a large statement, as we did today.

One of the first times I have to seriously disagree with you. Sadly politics has become involved in science. That was not even conceivable 30 years ago. It has become manipulated by moneyed interests that feel no compunction about long term interests or mankind.

Your interest in remaining overly neutral plays right into their hands. You as an avid outdoor enthusiast ought to be able to offer numerous anecdotes beyond the rigorous scientific methods that show in the NW what we are talking about. The amount of glacier loss in the cascades is astounding to anyone that has climbed or hiked the mountains, could this be cyclical? Sure but we are approaching several lifetimes of evidence. We could ask for a few more, but by then the problems will be close to irreversible.

Cliff at some point you have to take a stand we can quibble about this or that but the reality is global warming is real real and we need to start doing something about it starting yesterday!

Thank you for this lucid appeal. I expect, alas, that it is too late. Even questionning what we presume to know is considered to be denial**, yet we still don't understand what is man-made and what is a natural cycle of change.

**Shamefully borrowing the term from Holocaust deniers, belittling the original use of the term, closing down scientific enquiry, and burnishing the credentials of moral preeners--disgusting.

Marching, screaming, and holding signs is not going to change anyone's mind. The only way to push back against the reactionaries running the country now is to convince people at ground level. That means working to educate them - especially kids.

Your callout in bullet 8. is spot on. I cringe when I see tripe like that, and especially when it's published in otherwise great journalistic sources like the NY Times. Worst of all, it reduces the credibility of science in general.

This "March for Science" leaves me disillusioned at the proportion of people who cannot distinguish science from advocacy. The former relates to delineating theories and facts, the latter to arguing policy.

As Cliff correctly suggests, millions of people marching, with the loudest arguing for specific environmental policies, lauding some and lambasting other recent and current politicians, mostly has the effect of causing the conservative electorate that elected the President, House, and Senate to view "science" as a tool co-opted by advocates for partisan politics, not a valuable resource. Cathartic but polarizing and not helpful.

Much as I support most of the policies advocated by the marchers, and marches that advocate policy.

All this 'march for science' does it reinforce the idea in most peoples' minds that the left are bullies. I can't wait for the day that you see the same people go back and forth between this and antifa.

But the empirical evidence also includes:* temperature trends less than the IPCC low end estimates* decreasingly variable temperatures ( less extreme temperature )* fewer hot summers in the US ( over more than a century )* no significant change of US drought ( over more than a century )* no significant trend of global drought ( for the satellite era plant stress estimates )* no trend in global tropical cyclone energy ( since the early 1970s )

Further, empirical evidence also include:* the increase in plant growth and crop yield with increasing CO2* the decrease in plant water loss with increasing CO2* the increase of the temperature at which plants maximize growth rates with increasing CO2* satellite leaf area index values indicate trends of increasing biomass

Additional empirical evidence would include:* more than three quarters of global CO2 emissions are from countries with less than replacement fertility rates.

There is an unfortunate conflation of climate change with global mean temperature increase.And there is an unfortunate conflation of harm with climate change.

The back-end, bottom-line choice that makes the science political is not so much the science, but the idea which all are harboring as to whether-or-not policy is necessary.

Since the focus is on empirical observations, I believe the observations indicate climate to be marginal, benign and even beneficial.

2. The anthropogenic global warming cult has long since ignored the scientific method. For starters, there is no such thing as "settled science." This is especially true of a hypothesis like AGW. It goes on.

4. You can cut the smug arrogance with a knife. You can always tell a "progressive," but you sure can't tell a "progressive" anything. Why? They just "know" they are smarter than mere human beings.

http://www.vox.com/2016/4/21/11451378/smug-american-liberalism

5. The AGW lobby is just as self-interested as the hydrocarbon producers.

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2015/07/30/377086.htm

6. Aside from the political manipulation of weather data, the AGW believers made a fundamental mistake early on. They coalesced around a single hypothesis. They have now painted themselves into a tighter and tighter corner, and don't know how to get out.

While I respect most of Professor Mass' comments, this is the time to do both: (a) educate others, and (b) express genuine concern that science is not taken seriously by this administration. Make no mistake, Mr. Trump cannot and will not enact environmental legislation: he will leave that to his appointees, who care not about media image.

On a historical note, conservation advocacy swelled dramatically during Ronald Reagan's first term (during Interior Secretary James Watts' tenure, Sierra Club membership nearly doubled, from 170,000 to 325,000). As November's election affirmed, change happens when people get personally and politically involved!

While I respect most of Professor Mass' comments, I believe we must do both: (a) educate others, and (b) speak out in defense of science. Make no mistake, Mr. Trump cannot and will not enact environmental legislation: he will leave that to his appointees, many of whom care not about their public image.

On a historical note, conservation advocacy swelled during Ronald Reagan's first term (in response to the policies of Interior Secretary James Watt, Sierra Club's membership nearly doubled from 170,000 to 325,000). As last November's election taught us, personal and political involvement effects change!

I respectfully submit that my colleagues Cliff and John Vidale are hand wringing and over emphasising their unwarranted fears about the possible consequences of a political dimension to this activity in a number of ways. Firstly and most importantly, this did not come off as a particularly political event in the press or in the eyes of the public despite some attempts at making it so (no windows broken, no more disruption that a small sporting event, that is compared to some other public expressions of unrest). What it did *accomplish* and facilitate was a sense of community on the part of the participants, that included everything from K-12 teachers and classes to just the interested public, marching with card-carrying scientists. This kind of organic connection is as important as a weather blog or a seismometer at a Seahawks game, perhaps much more so. People who say this "does no good" generally lack the "social perspective" to understand that many forms of social connection and relationship are important in advancing and understanding our shared stake and support for science. Point being that most people were there (I know because I was) simply to give a shout-out for science. And as far as I can tell the negative fall-out has been about ZERO and the positives manifest.

George B. Let me explain my point. It is wonderful that you folks enjoyed your shared stake and support for science. But you didn't accomplish anything useful. You need to connect with those that were not marching with you...the Trump supporters and those doubting man's impact on climate. They see a bunch of scientists and sympathizers marching, with lots of Trump signs and ancillary political/social messages, as lefty protesters. You turned them off if anything (I know some of those folks and I would not repeat some of the endearing terms they used). So I might debate about who lacked the "social perspective." This kind of talking (and marching) with "the informed" is what made Trump president. The marchers are simply helping Trump and his minions.....cliff

EcoWilly, I have to disagree. Trump and the Republicans (and Democrats) have already passed and signed a very important piece of environmental legislation (the Weather Forecast and Research Innovation Act). Totally bipartisan and critically needed. The same technology and models are used in weather, seasonal, and climate models. This is win for all environmentalists. And don't mention the Sierra Club...those folks worked against I-732, which would have brought the first carbon tax to the nation. A great loss for our environment....cliff

I am positively disposed to all sciences, but this march struck me as inane, unfocused and obvious self-congratulation by elites who are apparently blind to their elitism.

To the "marchers": Just keep on telling your inferiors how stupid and unscientific they are (even if they are daily practitioners of the scientific method). Yeah, that'll work. To get you even more money and prestige. Which seems to be the desired outcome of your whining.

Cliff - this "March for science" was not intended to persuade Trump supporters. Not the fanatics anyway. If you research Right Wing authoritarian personality ( go to the Wiki page to get your feet wet) you will find 3 pertinent things:

1) that single demographic marker best predicts Trump support

2) Loyalty is a strong characteristic of the RWA personality

3) roughly 20% of any population worldwide is RWA personality

Due to this strength of loyalty, to "double down" against all evidence is second nature. They are not persuadable to a degree greater than most. they are not "conservative" (a politic) they are RWA which is a personality type, that in other times and places gravitated to other entrenched political powers, even so- called "leftist" authoritarian regimes, such as Stalinist or Maoist communism, or fundamentalist religion cults such as the Taliban. Different authoritarians in different environments, but all attract the same personalities. Yes, equally intransigent people can be found on the US left but by the best known science, not remotely the same volume of numbers. If you truly respect the validity of the scientific process, your research will reveal this to be true, by way of a expertise consensus at least as strong as that of AGW.

At any rate, the March for science is an appeal to the vast middle ground of the citizenry and political leadership, in a hope that more reasonable people can recognize the gross error in supporting powers that are so loathe to maintain an ethic of policy by best evidence.

We know from history that mass public protest does indeed have a crucial role in positively influencing politics, such as during the cvil rights protests and the vietnam war protests. Climate science, like it or not, has been and will continue to be an element of the political, hopefully in the role we were marching for - the best known means of establishing best known fact in order to inform best possible public policy.

Bruce Kay You reveal much of the problem---denigrating folks you have differences with....even suggesting they have some kind of disorder (RWA). This kind of attitude is what made Trump president and is the failure mode of the left. It is hurtful and counterproductive...cliff

I agree with some of the commenters who said that science, the scientific method, truth and facts are all under attack by this administration, in a manner the US has never, ever seen. Scientists did not do the politicizing. This administration did. When under attack, it is reasonable to defend oneself, and the entire scientific enterprise. That is why I proudly marched on Saturday. There may have been as many motives for marching as there were marchers (20,000)? That is ok. For now, this is a democracy (if we are lucky), and free speech is allowed.

Yep, Bruce Kay and others, if you're not a liberal, you're an idiot, and deplorable. Well, Bruce, idiots vote. And they don't like being insulted by those who would be their "progressive" overlords. The smugger and the more obnoxious and arrogant your poltical cult gets, the more it will lose.

George, I didn't say the march did no good, rather that its benefit in camaraderie and organization to the marchers should be balanced against the further political polarization it generates across the country and the distain with which those in power in DC view science in general as useful and nonpartisan.

I am dumbfounded, the more I think about it, by the assumption of the marchers that those whose policies they are protesting are simply ignorant of science, and therefore that preaching science will change the course of the environment and the country. There are two sides of these issues, and jingoistic chants and bumpersticker signs are not bringing the sides together. I saw the epitome in a tweet yesterday - "Hello, my name is Science, you killed my funding. Prepare to die [from natural disasters]." From someone whose paycheck is based on science. The optics as well as the logic are not compelling.

I regret not marching, however, it seemed like a good party. I did watch a live stream long enough to see the drama of the social justice disrupter getting dragged off the stage just after (before?) the pure politics of Inslee by a bunch of police, just before the mayor gave an equally off-topic speech.

RWA is not a disorder. It is a personality type with particular characteristics. I hinted strongly that if you take exception to it, then your are taking exception to what is considered well accepted fact, by another domain of science with as much credibility as your own. As I said, do yourself a favour and shelve your climate science for a week or so and do a little reading on it. Maybe then you can denigrate, with actual validity, my perfectly valid points.

As for denigrating, I am at worse speaking back to Placeholder with exactly the same language he enjoys with very little pushback from either you or others, so don't single me out. as well, while admittedly I am guessing about his skill, he can certainly prove me wrong any time, which i would graciously accept. Until then, I suggest that he is displaying very much one element of american culture than has little virtue - contempt for expertise.

That I suggest is a far more serious crime than returning any comments about "big boy pants". Let's get real here about the perceptions of smugness. I can change my tune quite quickly if he demonstrates, rather than simply asserts, the validity of his claims. I can also do the same if mine are proven invalid. Fire away, says I and I would assume that anyone with a profession in science, this can resonate at least a bit.

Scientists make predictions, conduct experiments to test them, and analyze the results. My prediction last week was that the March for Science would be fun and energizing, full of clever signs and enthusiastic lovers of nature. My prediction was that the majority of signs would not feature Trump. It's Earth Day, not an inauguration!

Yippee, I was right! Sure there were some hilarious slams against Trump. But most signs supported the scientific process, the value of evidence and observation. A child carried a sign that said "pugs for science" with a hand drawing of his dog included! This is not going to harm your job as a scientist or the future of our Earth!

I am a nature lover, mother, life-long Washington resident, and attended the first Earth Days in the seventies. This day is a celebration of the beauty of our environment, and the need to be vigilant advocates for it.

Along the way in my life's journey, I earned a doctorate in atmospheric science and worked for decades in climate research. But I also am a human and have emotions. Aren't emotions considered the latest tool for convincing anti-science people that they are doing our world a disservice? The March for Science was greeted enthusiastically by my family, and we are now ENERGIZED to outreach to our communities, instead of wallowing in the depression that followed the election of Trump.

Young people need to become enthusiastic about science and math studies! The lovely March yesterday brought out many families, and the bright eyes of the children in the crowd were so gratifying to see.

Free speech is allowed-- for everyone except those who challenge conventional wisdom-- they are shut down (sometimes with violence and injuries as at Middlebury)...Whenever I hear the phrases "settled science" and "accepted fact" I know I am hearing an ideologue/partisan, or someone who doesn't understand the scientific method. I presume people commenting here are the former, not the latter. Nothing in science is ever "settled". That's the point. If something is once and for all "settled," then it's not science. It's either religion/faith or secular ideology. Using "accepted/settled fact" in order to shut up dissenters is a classic power move, used by totalitarians always and everywhere to deal with heretics.

@turbulenteddies, no irony intended. Seriously, emotion is not necessarily a dirty word. And yes, it does have a place in science. Think about how many scientists got started in their careers by the beauty of a rainbow, driven to understand why it is there (I did)? How many kids have been mesmerized by the perfection of natural systems such as photosynthesis (me again)? Guess how many people fund the American Meteorological Society because they are sickened by the sight of glaciers dramatically receding on their local mountain tops (I do)? How many teachers have convinced students that science is a crucial part of everday living by assuring them that they need not fear flying thanks to the incredible competence of scientists and engineers (I have)?

Better yet, follow the research and even common sense. Union of Concerned Scientists, and others, are actively trying to understand how scientists can successfully reach out to "science deniers." When you have "science deniers" who are ignoring facts due to their emotions, there is growing support for the idea that the key to reaching them is through their emotions. Trying to come up with a simpler model of the greenhouse effect, with the idea they are too ignorant to see the light, has not worked. Telling them that vast majority of world's scientists established a clear link between fossil fuel emissions and global warming has not worked. Appealing to their emotions may work -- for example, convincing mothers that their kids may grow up to have better jobs in an economy that is investing in renewable energy.

Jane Goodall is currently putting all her energy into engaging children in science and a love of the natural world, by putting her vast resources to work in youth organizations around the globe. Yes, I said the LOVE word!

They are evolutionary responses that have enhanced survival of many species. They are part of our reptile brain.Reason is our aspiration, but it is emotion that makes us rise each morning.

However, the only emotion with a place in science is curiosity - the unthinking desire to know.And even curiosity can get one in trouble. Emotions are what create the cognitive biases that lead us away from, not toward veracity.

Fear is an emotional response to a real and imminent threat that protects us.( as long as the threat is accurately identified and assessed ).

Anxiety is an emotional response to an imagined or remote threat that harms us.

Mean Global warming is a caculable and expected result from increased greenhouse gases.But the empirical evidence suggests:* the rate of observed warming at or below the best estimated low end projections* the warming has coincided with reduced variability ( less extreme temperature ranges ).* the warming has coincided with fewer hot days in the US* the warming has coincided with fewer strong tornadoes in the US* the warming has not coincided with change of drought in the US* the warming has not coincided with change of global drought in the satellite record* the warming has not coincided with change of tropical cyclone energy* the warming has not meant significant change of forest fires in the US

* the annual rate of increasing radiative forcing peaked in 1989 * the annual rate of increasing radiative forcing from CO2 peaked in 2007* the annual rate of CO2 emissions peaked in 2013* more than three quarters of CO2 emissions are from countries with less than replacement fertility rates.

Bruce Kay, I've offered numerous links in support of my assertions. You show no sign of having bothered to read them. This doesn't surprise me. It is impossible to have an intelligent conversation with an AGW cultist.

Assuming Cliff will correct or counter your list of reasons why we should be embracing (and not fearing) C02 emissions - but as a start:

The 10 hottest years ever recorded have all occurred since 1998. The hottest year on record is 2016. It broke the record set in 2015, which itself broke the record setting 2014.Could you let us know your source for believing that "warming has coincided with fewer hot days in the US" and how you reconcile your belief in that statement with NOAA's data i.e. "For the Lower 48 states, June through August 2016 tied for the fifth-hottest such period in 122 years of records dating to 1895, according to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information"

Also do you believe the data being obtained on atmospheric CO2 which in 2016 had a record increase of 3.2 to 3.55 parts per million.

A total waste of time. If you have to march for science then it's not science. Real science is about boring, tedious, unemotional facts and it leads where it may. There is a huge political investment in several areas of science today, particularly in climate. And that investment is causing a backlash. The scientists like Michael Mann and Kevin Trenberth who have willfully guided the discussions, papers and peer review towards the political have only themselves to blame when skepticism arises.

Bravo to Cliff for bravely bringing this up and trying to return the discussion to a reasonable and purely scientific direction.

The 10 hottest years ever recorded have all occurred since 1998. The hottest year on record is 2016. It broke the record set in 2015, which itself broke the record setting 2014.Could you let us know your source for believing that "warming has coincided with fewer hot days in the US" and how you reconcile your belief in that statement with NOAA's data i.e."For the Lower 48 states, June through August 2016 tied for the fifth-hottest such period in 122 years of records dating to 1895, according to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information"

Yes. The distinction to make is this:The ten years with the highest global annual mean temperatures have occurred recently.But annual mean does not necessarily mean hottest.Most of the highest summer temperatures in the US occurred well in the past.It's less clear what happened for the globe, because there are very few stations outside the US with consistent and persistent records for this period.But among those consistent stations, there is also a slight decline in the hottest days.So it may well be more accurate to refer to the years with the highest global annual mean rather than the hottest years.

Also do you believe the data being obtained on atmospheric CO2 which in 2016 had a record increase of 3.2 to 3.55 parts per million.

Sure.

But if you're thinking about what effect that has, then it's the radiative forcing to consider.RF = 5.35 * ln ( C / C0 )So just maintain a constant rate of increase of forcing and (+/- some amount of lag, a constant rate of increase of temperature), CO2 must increase exponentially.

Place Slipper - I show no sign, so you assume I didn't. That my friend is a false negative. Only a damn fool draws positive conclusions a from a negative.

Turns out I did read them. The only one of interest to the discussion is the VOX article on how so painfully sensitive the right wing is to any assault on their credibility of judgement. Sensitivity usually indicates insecurity, which makes sense when you think of it.

See as you are pretty damn sure VOX indicates credible journalism, I suggest you add this to your reading, then you and Cliff can discuss your findings:

http://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11127424/trump-authoritarianism

and if the reading doesn't suit you try their little video

http://www.vox.com/2016/5/20/11720276/donald-trump-authoritarianism

Before you jump to any wild conclusions, no I am not insinuating you are an RWA personality. You'll have to take a quick little test to establish that if your feeling bold ( link provided below). I just want it made abundantly clear, substantively, that my own claims are corroborated by a solid consensus expert opinion, probably as good as 97% or so, not just the assertions of another no nothing, like Bill Oreilly or some Fabulous Maximus blogger.

When science learned how to create electricity, light bulbs, air conditioning, anti-biotics, polio-vaccines, most people jumped with joy! Hurrah for Science! When science learned how to make atom bombs, we shuddered.

When science says burning vast amounts of fossil fuels will change the climate: flooding our coastal cities and cause extreme drought many of our politicians say, "No, it won't, it's a hoax, its a conspiracy". These politicians are fearful of the science. People who follow those politicians agree. They are the global warming deniers.

What motivates these politicians to fear the best science available? It's rather obvious. Half the jobs in Oklahoma depend on oil and gas. West Virginia and Kentucky is coal country. North Dakota just discovered oil riches. Did I mention Texas.

Of course, it's more than just oil, coal and gas production. Our tanks and fighter planes burn oil. Our agriculture depends on tractors. Our transportation is oil based. Most of our nation heats and cools it's homes and businesses with fossil fuels.

Since global warming denial is fear driven, no amount of scientific evidence will ever persuade them.

Global warming deniers are afraid. They fear a world without oil, coal and gas will be a disaster.

The rest of us, want to embrace a new world powered mostly by the sun and wind.

The task is to convince the fearful pro-oil people that solar can heat and cool our homes, run our transportation, power industry and employ millions of workers. Fighter jets will still need JP4 but tractors and combines can be electric.

It takes a leap of faith to believe it's possible and will not create an economic and military decline.

Turbulenteddies, you cannot use fertility rates to project energy use or carbon emissions. For starters, many countries have fertility rates less than replacement but are growing exponentially...including the US and China.

Why would I be fearful of a 2 C rise in temperatures? Heck, I'm hoping for a 10 C rise in temperatures so Earth can get back to the normal greenhouse Earth instead of this icebox Earth. That's because like all of us, I'm evolved for the savanna, where I can run after game in the noon sun when lions are having to hide, panting in the shade, because I am covered in sweat glands. Almost everywhere else on this planet is too cold for humans, which forced us to invent sewing so we could wear furs - and build teepees, yurts, huts, and indoor malls.

And it's not like I'm used to a stable climate. My local high temperature varies by 10 F from decade to decade, which is almost 6 C. I put every single temperatures from my local weather station for the past 30 years into a spreadsheet to explore the effects of the predicted rise. I took the past decade as the normal climate variation for my city and then added warming to see how long we'd be outside that normal. Good news. With catastrophic global warming, I'll be outside our old norm for about 3 hours on 2 afternoons. I figure I can just go inside to the air condition and watch a couple episode of Stargate SG-1 and just miss the whole "It's so hot we're all going to die!" thing.

In fact, we're all living in states whose average temperature varies by 39 F, yapping about how a 2 C change is going to wipe out human civilization. It's not science, it's insanity.

In the northern temperate regions, the temperature goes up an average of 1 C every 90 miles south. So if you want to look at the impending devastation, just hop in the car and drive three hours south. Are bodies piled up in the streets? While you are taking that little research trip, someone from 180 miles to your north will be driving past your own home, sadly nodding their heads at your hellish climate, the one you think is perfect.

You are trying to terrify people with the thought that their grandchildren might one day enjoy better gardening and a slightly longer growing season. You are trying to terrify people in southern Ohio with the thought that their climate might, in a century, be like northern Kentucky's.

And the really scary part is that so many people buy in to the fear because it is a simple story about sin (gluttony and greed), and atonement or punishment. Since mankind has sinned, all people will be punished, and punished severely with heat and fire, even the ones manning polar ice stations. Given the vast range of climates we inhabit, it's not scientifically possible for all of them to be optimal. Given that we're evolved for the African savanna, it's obvious that most climates we inhabit are too cold for us. Yet we're now supposed to believe that not only are all climates optimal, but every one of them is almost unbearably hot. Two more degrees and we're all doomed. It's nonsense.

In truth, nobody cares very much about the climate. They claim they do, but that's all mindless virtue signalling. When they get job offers from New York, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, LA, and Seattle, they look at the salary, home prices, crime rates, state and local taxes, school ratings, the bar scene, museums, and the potential commute. They only consider the climate as the 10th or 20th item on the list. They do this even though those cities have climates so different that they might as well be on different planets. If you listen to the alarmists, you'd think that a British actor moving to LA would just spontaneously explode, since they are undergoing a climate warming that is four times larger than what alarmists claim will result in the death of human civilization.

So to us rational people, climate alarmists are about as rational as the apocalyptic doomsday preachers who wear signboards saying "The End is Near!", or a bunch of Heaven's Gate cultists looking for a trip to the Hale Bop comet.

Unknowing, Your rationalizations are an example of the inadequacy of common sense in explaining uncommon problems. The notion that our own limited experience with daily or even seasonal temperature swings indicates the extent of our required resiliency is a deception. Humans as a a species are not threatened by a "mere" 2 degree rise. As you point out, human's will adapt or even evolve. Unfortunately, that will involve something along the lines of what you describe - a regression toward the human existence of the past. Small tribal clusters hiding from the mid day heat, waiting for the sun to go down to compete with the lions for the running gazelles in the cooler evening. It is not the human spieces that is dependant on a stable and just right climate. It is civilization as we know it and presumably appreciate, if you can appreciate all that that has provided to each consecutive generation.

Now to be fair, many people cynical of the advances of civilization do hope for exactly this, but what is abundantly clear, is that that is easy for them to say while they enjoy its fruits. This is a convenient down loading of risk onto future generations, while we continue to fleece their future resources. Perhaps you should be asking your kids and grandkids if they look forward to chasing gazelles for dinner in their loin cloths. Hell ask yourself that next time you expect the lights to come on when you flick a light switch, or listen to a Bach concerto or drive to the corner store for milk.

"Rational people" have a habit of assuming their woefully limited capacity to arrange the little they know is adequate for any problem they set their mind to. That great champion of rationalization Ayn Rand discovered the fallacy of that, too late for her perhaps, when she predictably developed lung cancer from chain smoking her whole life, eventually requiring her to break from her proud, rugged individualist principles in order to accept a helping hand from the evil collectivist society as the vastness of her ignorance and hubris became embarrassingly obvious. In your own hubris you claim that people are saying "The End is near!" That is your common sense at work. With a little bit more work and no small amount of empathy, you will quickly find that they are actually saying " The end is possible and if we fail to take appropriate action, that possibility will progress to a highly probable end to any notion of a continuance of what we know as our expected standard of living". The people will uncommon sense are saying this and only a fool prefers their own common sense when they are miles out of their depth in uncommon territory.

Worse yet is ignoring the obvious moral failing in that foolishness, simply because the risk isn't ours.

Do you think that when you accused the left in the carbon tax debate of having their "Ralph Nader moment" that you were building bridges and working against polarization, or were you doing the opposite?

I was a volunteer for I-732, and I desperately wanted to see it passed. But I could read the writing on the wall: without the democratic environmental base, the measure would fail.

So when I saw your article on the "Ralph Nader moment" I cringed. I knew that was just going to make the environmental left more polarized and hardened against the measure, not less.

Now, here, you are all about building bridges with the right, even folks on the right who deny basic scientific facts.

How about instead we build a broad-based pro-science coalition, regardless of party? That would be unstoppable.

But it may involve subsuming individual egos, and suppressing the desire to win little temporary rhetorical victories.

I am surprised by the unbelievably short-sighted comments on this blog. Also, when someone decides to tell another person what they are "trying to do" or discounts a large group of people by saying "that's all virtue signalling" it is clear that person has no basis for making the claims they are making. While I could agree with "Unknown" that religion has a negative affect on this conversation and on our society as a whole, the rest of the diatribe is simply short-sighted, simplistic claims based on nothing but opinion and semantic enjoyment of argument. Why do you pass these stupid comments to your blog, Cliff?

Sea level ( deduced from satellite and tide gauges ) is rising, mostly attributable to thermal expansion from global warming, at ~3mm per year. About 1mm per year of this is attributable to the extraction of ground water by much of the world not living in the NW.

But coastal flooding requires massive discharge of Greenland's ice.Needless to say, this has not been observed for the more than century long warming period.It also was not observed through the millenia of greater high latitude summer sunshine of the Holocene Climatic Optimum.

Turbulenteddies, you cannot use fertility rates to project energy use or carbon emissions. For starters, many countries have fertility rates less than replacement but are growing exponentially...including the US and China.

Population is still rising in each, but the US population is increasing due to immigration, and China's coming population decline is baked in the cake.

The US and China both have falling CO2 emissions rates, as do Russia, Japan, Europe and most places with sub replacement TFR.

Like the Chinese curse, may you live in interesting times, the falling fertility ( and population ) is a two edged sword. From an environmental perspective, it means reduced human footprint. From an economic perspective, it means reduced growth and prosperity.

bugjah, The left-leaning opponents if I-732 killed it by entraining their own politics. Instead of dealing with the need to reduce carbon emission, they rejected the measure because it didn't respond to other political elements of their group: climate "justice", jobs programs, and the like. It was they that injected partisan politics into mix. That is my point. cliff

Place Slipper - Satire eh? Well you'll appreciate this then. You know what Ernest Hemingway said about old men when their hard earned and largely assumed single main attribute is called into question?

"“No, that is the great fallacy: the wisdom of old men. They do not grow wise. They grow careful.”

Careful. Such as dodging with witty one liners. Not you of course! You clearly are secure in your wisdom gleaned from tough years in the trenches and top notch intellectual arena's, such as Hannity, Fabius Maximus, Prager U and whenever they say things that jive with your preconceived insecurities, VOX:

Bugjah...no inconsistency. Everyone in the world is calling out the right, but few scientists are calling out the left. My initial inspiration was when one of my colleagues (Mark Albright) was fired as associate state climatologist when he refused to follow the "party line" that the snowpack was disappearing due to global warming (he was clearly correct). Being in Seattle, the folks that read my blog and read the newspapers are on the left, so that is the only audience I can reach. I wish more scientists would join me in keeping the left honest. And keep a mind that some of the issue on the right are reactions to and reflections of the overreach of the left. Trump's election was not an accident, and the insular left bears a substantial amount of the blame..cliff

The strategic and technical transgressions of the left are well documented by the mainstream press. However, as s transgressions go, they pale by comparison to long running and intransigent outright denial of the consensus expert opinion on AGW and the risk it represents. The problem Cliff is that the crimes noted by the Right are overhyped to the point of ridiculousness, such as their constant mortal offence at their inexpert and baseless claims not receiving respect as they assume is their entitlement . While their resentment on this point is understandable by what we know of psychology, it is not ethically justifiable by what we know of establishedcfact, unless one is inclined to facilitate myth in order to placate tender sensibilities

Ultimately we need to accept that the right wings insistence of a false equivalency in regard to respecting their opinions amounts to an intellectual subversion far out of proportion to any similar climate science subversions seen on the political left or in the media. The point is, everyone should be calling out the right more, not less. We are where we are, now twenty odd years later specifically because they have been granted too much respect. To their great credit, a few Conservative media sources are finally bucking that trend, such as The Atlantic. In fact, if your claims of the firing of Mark albright are based in fact, The Atlantic and others show they have the ethical standard to reveal the details which would certainly provide grounds for a civil suite of wrongful dismissal, if they do. So why don't they?

I largely agree with your assessment of the stupidity and in all likelihood, an indication of ideological delusion in the strategy of the Sierra Club and others in regard to the recent washington Carbon tax initiative. There are similar errors in judgement on full display north of the border with our energy policy battles, demonstrated by a relentless insistence that all oil pipelines must not proceed, the dice should roll only for a shakey odds gamble on wind, solar and geothermal while pointedly ignoring the unique potential of our tried and true hydro resources. This of course is justified by claims of urgency but it also downplays the practical hazards in transitioning so rapidly, all conveniently concentrated in communities low in lefty sentiments.

We absolutely must be more pragmatic and empathetic to the basic every day needs of our status quo dependant neighbours but never should we accommodate outright denial of scientific findings to do so. That facilitates delusion and perpetuates myth, all well established tools to undermine the essential need for change. By all credible evidence, change is required, not status quo. By that fact alone, the Left side of politics has a better foundation of justification in intent, even if their pragmatism in advancing that is flawed. The left needs to dump it's more delusional ideals and fanatics but at east they have the basic facts right.

Too bad the right wing can't say that. They do have valid concerns, but their use of falsehood to service those concerns is entirely unethical. God bless those Conservatives that have the moral courage to see that, says I.

I was mulling over a response, but Bruce just made one that was far more tactful and articulate than I would likely be able to achieve, so let me just endorse his post and add only the following additional points:

1) the issue here is, as Bruce stated, one of false equivalency. The false equivalency in the press about the level and nature of scientific disagreement about climate change has set back reasonable efforts like a carbon tax by years. Humans will literally die, and non-human species will literally go extinct while we dither. This is ethically entirely unacceptable.

2) I find your justification for focusing on the left to be rather thin gruel, to be honest. If you *really* wanted to persuade the left of your more centrist viewpoint you wouldn't antagonize them. Which you clearly do! And I even sense that you purposefully do this, though I can't claim to know your motivations for such. If you wanted to be practical and persuasive, you would acknowledge the lack of equivalence between what you consider the transgressions of the left and those of the right on issues related to science in general and climate change specifically. Doing so would not only comport with the very obvious reality, it would make people more likely to take your perspective seriously and to heart. This was my point with I-732 and the "Nader Moment" piece.

3) It is demonstrably untrue that left-leaning scientists are unwilling to confront scientific untruths from some non scientists on the left. One clear example is the vaccine debate. A less clear one is the GMO debate (though I personally find myself to the left of most scientists on GMO issues). If the same is not extended often to extreme "left" positions on climate change, it is probably because scientists feel much more generally embattled on this issue from the right and the organized denial campaigns.

4) On a related issue, I would be interested in your take, Cliff, on the PNAS study that just came out which used a very clever approach to quantify the likelihood that a given extreme weather event is climate change related. Their conclusion is that one can do such analyses, and many famous extreme weather outliers can be "blamed" on climate change at least to some degree and with some confidence. This seems to be in opposition to one of your favorite memes for attacking the left on their climate pronouncements.

Bruce... the reality is that giving an inch and they take a mile. I would like to say in public that 'human caused climate change is real and we need to do something about it'... and then the left runs with it... carbon taxes, roll back CO2 emissions to 1990 levels, increase utility bills by 300%, etc... You guys won't be satisfied until we're all living in the stone age again.

For me this is literally about protecting the high standard of living that I am accustomed to. I will not let the left take that away.

bugjah, Just a few comments.1. No one is talking about equivalency, either false or true. Both "sides" are making serious errors. I should note that substantial numbers of moderate Republicans are willing to go with the carbon tax and acknowledge the seriousness of the problem. I really doubt that our species will go extinct...we are highly adaptive. 2. I am focusing on the left because few folks are willing to do this, for a number of reasons. Most scientists lean left and are less willing to criticize their "side." Are you suggesting that I don't note what I believe are serious errors on the left? I have talked to them in private.3. Scientists need to be even handed and not just criticize the right. There have been many false statements on the left, should we give the left a pass on this? Why?4. Can you give me the reference of the PNAS study you are referring to?

Alex - you're jumping to conclusions about our intentions. I like my standard of living as much as you and I don't want to see it take a dive for my kids and yours, thus I see the need to take smart risks now, while we can, to improve their odds. It is basic risk management which may well be the single most stand out ability human possess in advancing as we have to that very standard of living we appreciate. Risk management intrinsically involves judging hazards under conditions of uncertainty, then taking on other risks in order to mitigate, if they are judged to be lesser in hazard. What we know about AGW is that indeed they are.

To that extent you are right. We do need a progressive tax on what is currently a very significant unaccounted externalized cost that will eventually bite our ass, like all conveniently ignored costs. That may well involve increased energy bills, which if we are smart, can be distributed fairly. Wealthy nations can and as some currently demonstrate, easily handle this.

And yes, in order to avoid catastrophic global scale results - again in case it isn't clear, unethically downloaded onto our kids - we do in fact need to scale back carbon emissions, significantly and rather quickly. This requires action on a scale and rapidity approaching what we handled not too long ago, during the second world war. Maybe we have a little more time to spool up but as you know full well, we have already wasted away two decades already, largely due to delusion and mythology, not resources and technical capability.

I'm just not sure the right wing has the moral sack for these simple truths. They like the status quo just fine and to hell with future generations.

However, you do not understand the difference between global climate and weather.

30,000 years ago when the global temperature was only 6 to 8 degrees C colder than it is now, Seattle and my home state of Minnesota were glaciated. The oceans were about 250 feet lower than today. There was no Puget Sound, there were no Great Lakes, New York City (Long Island) was under a glacier too. Climate change is a big deal.

A couple of degrees change in global temperature has an enormous impact on climate. What we call the Little Ice Age from about 1450 to 1750 was estimated by Dr. Michael Mann to be only 0.5 to 0.7 C colder than the 20th century average. It was cold enough that London, England staged ice festivals on the frozen Thames river during the winter months.

Earth has been glaciated for about the last 3.5 million years. Geologists call this period the Quaternary Period aka Quaternary Ice Age. Geologists have identified 5 major ice ages. The previous ice age is called the Karoo Ice Age. The Karoo occurred between about 350 to 250 million years ago. The Karoo glaciation roughly corresponds to the Carboniferous Period when Earth's coal seams were laid down. Earth was mostly ice free between the Karoo and the Quaternary. The Dinosaurs lived in the time between the ice ages. During this time global temperatures are estimated to vary from about +4C to +12C. The Oceans were a couple hundred feet higher. Large areas of Earth were rocky deserts. There were large inland seas. It was a very different world than we humans inhabit today.

Earth's geology shows that when global temperature rise by several degrees C then land ice melts and oceans rise. Deserts expand pole-ward. Land glaciers vanish. To the best of my knowledge there is little evidence as to how local day to day weather changes.

As I understand it, at least one cause of the Karoo glaication was the explosive growth of land plants. The plants consumed atmospheric CO2. Carbon Dioxide concentrations fell, global temperature declined and glaciers expanded. Oxygen levels rose dramatically creating an atmosphere more conducive for land animals, also fire. Higher oxygen concentration creates a higher fire risk. The forests of club mosses and ferns burned. Earth warmed and the glaciers melted. Several millions of years later something bizarre happened, the Siberian Traps. A million year-long volcanic eruption. It killed more than 90% of all life and released large amounts of CO2 and Earth warmed. Anyway, that's how I understand Earth's geologic history.

So Unknown, a few degrees change in global temperature is a Big Deal. Sure, the human animal is adaptable but... look at our history. We fight horrible wars over issues of control. Now, we have arsenals of nuclear bombs. How will future generations deal with climate refugees, crop failures, flooded coastal zones other weather related problems.

If history is a lesson than not so good. I think it was 2011 when a third of the Russian wheat crop was lost. Putin put Russia first. No wheat exports. Countries like Egypt were suddenly short of food with little cash. Prices rose. People rioted. Government overthrown. The American Intelligence Community understands climate change is dangerous. So should you.

Today's May Day Parade, I mean protest march shows the futility of marching and protesting. Sure that probably made the protestors, who could afford time off work either because they were paid to protest or they don't have jobs, feel better about themselves. But no minds were changed. Because the vast majority ignored the protest or stayed away from Seattle altogether. It was a very light traffic day.

No one cares about protests. And they have nothing to do with science.